My Sweet Emma

Okay, I admit it - I am a procrastinator and many lapses in my posts were due to my lack of sitting at the computer and typing. This time, however, procrastination was not the reason. I was acting more on shock and unbelief. Something huge, something crazy, something that changed my whole perspective on life. Emma became a statistic. Let me start from the beginning.

Last Thursday had a swimming play date at our house. Too many kids, too much fun and not enough watching, and your life changes in a moment. After playing in the pool for about an hour, a thought came into my head - "Where is Emma?" After a quick scan, I still couldn't see her. Then I saw her ridiculously bright swimsuit - a couple of feet under the water. From that moment on, life stopped.

There are things that I remember - pulling my limp child out of the water, her blue lips, pounding her back to get the water out, and holding her like I could never let her go. Luckily, there were friends there that could tell me to pound her back, get the other kids out of the pool, call 911, and help me get some things together for the hospital. - things that are all fuzzy. And then there is the question of how I got from point A to point B - that I have no idea how that happened. It's weird how when the stress is high, your vision is so selective. Simple things like swimming to your child, or walking along the pool are lost, not important enough to remember. Only thoughts of how to make awful better, and doing what your child needs in only what is important.

Emma was a champ. She held still while the firefighters and paramedics gave her oxygen and worked to get her vitals. She even went in the ambulance without going crazy.

Once we got to the hospital, they took chest x-rays, and took a blood sample. The diagnosis was a near drowning. As they were taking the sample, Emma turned to me and said, "They are poking me, Mommy. They broke me." Needless to say, she held still.

An hour later, Emma went from cuddling in my arms, to wanting to go home. Yes, the ER on a Thursday afternoon is not the most exciting place to be.

Luckily, I have a mom purse - a few fruit leathers and a few cards and the toddler is entertained!

Before long, Dad came to keep us company.

3 hours later, we left the hospital with our beautiful girl. She was fine. It could have turned out so different, but she only had a few owies.

We are so blessed that Emma is okay. I can't believe how much the Lord blessed us. We have our sweet Emma. So many cliches fit this situation. Your life changes in a moment, put your family first, be there for your friends, etc. All of them apply. It feels like each moment of life is sooo important - who knows when it might be your last one? Do those little things really matter? Anything that keeps you away from your family - physically, spiritually, or emotionally is not worth it. And, it just amazed me that when it was rough, there were friends and family there for me - thank you! I won't be able to tell you how much I appreciated everything you did for me and my family. And to my family - I love and am so blessed to spend this life with you.